Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-07-16
NATHANIEL MACON.
A Consistent, just, but Almost Forgot
ten Public Man.

CHAMPAIGN. Ills, July l2.-ln the year
1s2s Nathaniel Macon attained the age Of
three score and ten. the limit of manly life,
Z the psslmist tells Us, At this date Macon WAS
I Just in the middle Of the third senatorial
! term conferred upon him by the North Caro-
: lima legislature, but having long before made
a resolution to retire from public life at the
age OF 20, he very promptly resigned his seat
To those who urged him To remain till the
end Of his term, and insisted that his mind
was good ever, he replied that his mind
was good enough 10 let him know that he
must quit Office before his mental powers Quit
him.
When American independence was de-
ciared Macon was IS years Of age and q
student al Princeton college. At this time a
body Of American troops WAS doing duty on
the Delaware. and Macon joined this force
did duty with it for season. but ultimately
resumed his studies at Princeton
In l1is the southern states were overrun
by the British armies. In this emergency
Macon returned to North Carolina. joined u
military company from his native county
and went to South Carolina then a most
active theatre "f war Ha bore his full share
in all the hardships encountered by the south
ern army, was at the fall of Fort Moultrie
the surrender of Charleston and the disas-
trous defeat at Camden under the unfortunate
Gen. Gates. He WAS with the army in its re-
treat toward the farther borders OF North
Carolina, and was with it in camp on the left
bank of the va kin river when the sudden
flooding OF that stream in the brief interval
between the crossing of the Americans and
appearance of the British arrested the pur-
suit of Cornw allis and thus gave much needed
rest TO Green's men
While in camp here. with only destitution
and want in the way of immediate surround
ings, Macon received word through the gov
ernor of North Carolina that be had been
chosen from his native county TO a seat in the
general assembly then about TO convene
Macon, however, refused To attend, and this
refusal was at once the talk of the camp and
very naturally reached Gen. Greene's ears.
That officer at once sent for Macon and in
quired why he had declined To serve his county
in the general assembly Macon answered tbre
50 far he had seen only the faces Of the enemy,
but preferred to remain in the army till their
Backs could be seen
Gen Greene was very favorably impressed
with Macon and at once sought to convince
him that it was his duty to attend the general
assembly when his familiarity with the testi-
tuition and needs Of the army would be of the
greatest service in getting supplies Of all
kinds. Macon saw the force Of Greene's ar
gument and promptly set off to attend the
session of the general assembly.
In this body his representations Of the con-
dition of the American army in the south had
much Influence in securing for Greenes suf-
fering army the endorsements and supplies
with which little later it WAS enabled to
win from Cornwallis the victory of Guilford
Court House
Macon closed his military career when he
left Greenes army in North Carolina He had
served In all three years, all this time in the
ranks, as he declined promotion Neither
would he take compensation for his services
And in after years, when the Revolutionary
veterans were loaded with passions, bounties
and land warrants, Macon uniformly refused
all such emoluments
He was in public life about forty Years.
and in addition to long service in the North
Carolina legislature, served as representative
III congress during the administrations Of
Washington, John Adams, jefferson and
part Of Nadisons term. While Madison was
yet In the executive chair Macon was trans
ferred to the senate, where he remained dur
ing Monroeis incumbency and well Oh to-
ward the close Of John Quincy Adams term
Of office-serving in all fifteen years
While in the house Of representatives
Macon was for many years its speaker. But
every place he reached was gained through
the suffrages Of the people or their immediate
representatives He declined the place of post
ma tvanaral np.jar Iapra l,,e -
fully accepted the position Of justice OF the
peace to which the people of his native
county elected him
At another period in his life be refused to
become a candidate for vice president, but in
1886 took the place of presidential elector on
the Van Buren ticket
Politically he was opposed to Alexander
Hamilton. but recognizing the honesty, pa
triotism and ability of the great Federal
leader, uniformly refused to sanction or take
part in any personal attack on him
Throughout life he was opposed to going
another's security, believing that each indi-
vidual should bear the i'll results Of his own
dealings, as well as reap the rewards of more
fortunate ventures. In his will he provided
that an intimate and valued friend should be-
come his executor, bu:, while trusted witn the
largest discretionary powers, be should lie ac-
countable to no court for the manner in
which the trust was discharged, as the mans
honor was deemed sufficient guarantee
He dressed neatly and ALWAYS had his
clothes made of navy blue cloth Of the finest
quality. Before one suit began to look worn
it was replaced by another Of exactly the
same quality and precisely similar PATTERN
the latter the style worn during the revo-
lutionary period, After res;gning from the
senate Macon passed nine years of ~.-an- con.
tentment, enjoying to the full the sweets Of
domestic peace at his home in North Carolina.
L. b. JOHNSON